number three, we have a long-term opportunity around energy. america can become an energy exporter. how do we do that in a way that deals with some of the environmental challenges that we have at the same time? that's going to be a third thing. but the most immediate thing i've got to do, starting on january 1st, if congress doesn't act before the end of the year is make sure that taxes are not going up on middle class families. because it is going to be very hard for the economy to sustain its growth trends if suddenly we have a huge fight taken out of the average american's paycheck. >> new gun regulations. mayor bloomberg of new york told me a couple weeks ago on this program that ought to be your number one agenda item. you know how hard this is. do you have the stomach for the political fight for new gun control laws? >> you know, david, i think anybody who was up in newtown who talked to the parents, who talked to the families, understands that something fundamental in america has to change. and all of us have to do some soul serving, including me as president, that we allow a